Des Houghton: Premier’s servo plan is the kookiest idea I’ve ever heard from a political leader
The Premier’s government-owned petrol stations pledge is the kookiest idea I have ever heard from a political leader in the history of this kooky state,” writes Des Houghton.
Des Houghton
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Steven Miles reminds me of the ageing ballerina who is losing her footing.
She waves her arms flamboyantly above her head to distract the audience from seeing her missteps.
The Premier’s pledge to build government-owned petrol stations and cap prices is the kookiest idea I have ever heard from a political leader in the history of this kooky state.
So kooky, I’m sure Bob Katter is kicking himself that he didn’t think of it first.
Petrol stations? No, panic stations.
The petrol stations will never be built, of course, and Miles knows it.
He has no plans, and no legal power to regulate prices. He knows that too; his Treasurer has already warned him.
Miles and Dick are now mere figureheads of a poisonous union collective that has diminished this other Eden, this demi-paradise, this sun-kissed realm we call Queensland.
What next? A set of free steak knives for voters in marginal seats?
Miles is desperate to divert the media from reporting violent youth home invasions, hospital and ambulance failures where delays mean the chance of surviving a heart attack is about 50-50, and where battlers live in tents because not enough homes were built.
And mob rule has arrived with no police presence at all as union thugs prevent workers going about their lawful business on public streets.
ONE OF QLD’S BIGGEST DAYS OF YEAR
Today is one of the biggest days of the year for every ridgy-didge, dinky die, true-blue Queenslander. It should be, anyway.
It’s the Royal Queensland Show judgement day for beef cattle, with the Champion of Champions announced at the Ekka between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.
You should head there immediately.
It is a day we must celebrate our wonderful beef cattle and salute the economic boost they provide to Queenslanders – as well as the juicy steaks sizzling on the barbecue.
Even the carrot munchers from West End should applaud our beef.
It is Queensland’s largest agricultural export, valued at $7.1bn according to Trade and Investment Queensland.
Charolais breeder Gary Noller, the Ekka’s longtime cattle committee chairman, tells me there are 25 different breeds of beef cattle to be admired.
Show goers are invited into the main arena to watch the judging.
Look for my favourite, pictured with me, right, the Speckled Park, a Canadian animal developed from British whites, Aberdeen Angus, Texas Longhorns.
Noller says it is also the breed roaring up the flavour hit parade for chefs.
The beef cattle start leaving the Ekka on Sunday to make space for the horses and dairy cattle.
Sample the prize-winning beef at the Royal Queensland Steakhouse that runs for the duration of the Ekka.
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‘They lied black and blue’: Miles unworthy to lead Labor again
Critics have rightly focused on the staggering cost overruns of Labor’s absurdly overblown Pioneer-Burdekin hydro project, but there is a deeper scandal, writes Des Houghton.